COVINGTON, Ky. — Tim Eversole said he’s been living in eastern Covington for about 18 years. He’s the owner of the Greenup Street location of the Bean Haus Bakery and Cafe. While the business is new, the building is not. 

“This building was built in 1869 and this was originally a saloon and grocery store and then in 1904 it became the first Kroger in Covington,” Eversole said. 

What You Need To Know

  • City of Covington and the Center for Great Neighborhoods have partnered in the Eastern Corridor Initiative

  • The plan received the 2021 Best Practices in Economic Development Award from the American Planning Association

  • The team received a $100,000 Our Town grant from the National Endowment of the Arts for the Eastern Arts and Creative Enterprise Project

  • The project aims to spruce up and make use of space in eastern neighborhoods in Covington with resident input

This ability to make use of an old, historic building is what Covington city leaders and those with the Center for Great Neighborhoods are trying to accomplish in ongoing efforts to revitalize neighborhoods located on the eastern side of town.

“A lot of the neighborhood uses it regularly and we already have a business hub here but a lot of buildings are vacant. Covington has beautiful historic buildings that are just waiting to be rehabbed,” said Sarah Allan, Covington’s Assistant Director for Economic Development.

The Eastern Corridor Initative recently received the 2021 Best Practices in Economic Development Award from the American Planning Association. It’s a project aimed at helping revitalize and make use of spaces in neighborhoods with resident input.

“We’ve really made strides to hear the residents as much as possible and say you live here, you’ve been here what else can happen here,” Allan said.

One of the main points of the project includes opening up discussion on what to do with the St. Elizabeth hospital building. Allan said a nursing home currently operates out of part of the building, but there’s still a lot of unused space.

“How can we use this building? It’s an amazing, beautiful historic structure. What can all go in here? Businesses? Offices? Jobs? How can it really serve the community? More housing,” Allan said.

The team also received a $100,000 Our Town grant from the National Endowment of the Arts for the Eastern Arts and Creative Enterprise Project.

“As this changes and as the Eastern Corridor project grows more, we’re going to see more and more people on the streets walking and commuting around and that’s what a neighborhood really is about is the people,” Eversole said.